- Title: Ford opens two factories to make more F-Series electric trucks
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORD MOTOR, VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENT & SAFETY OFFICER, BOB HOLYCROSS, SAYING: "Well, from the onset, we talked about how we're going to be leading the electrification revolution, and in order to really do that, you have to do it at scale to make a difference. And in order to provide the kind of scale that we need for both retail and commercial customers, it is going to take this kind of an investment and more. We've talked about a $30 billion investment alone through 2025 to really get us to the scale that we need. And, you know, given everything that Ford has stood for and done in terms of providing mobility solutions for the masses, this is the kind of investment that really keeps us at the forefront of keeping the world on wheels."
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 19:59
- Keywords: Blue Oval City BlueOvalSK Battery Park F-150 auto production complex batteries electric F-Series electric zero-emission vehicles
- Location: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, + DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES, UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- City: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, + DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES, UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA004EWMY53B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ford Motor and its Korean battery partner SK Innovation will invest $11.4 billion to build an electric F-150 assembly plant and three battery plants in the United States, accelerating the U.S. automaker's push into electric vehicles.
Ford said on Tuesday (September 28) it now expects to have 40% to 50% of its global vehicle volume to be all-electric by 2030, up from its prior forecast of 40%.
The companies intend to create nearly 11,000 jobs by opening assembly and battery plants in Stanton, Tennessee, and two additional battery factories in Glendale, Kentucky, as part of Ford's previously announced plan to spend more than $30 billion through 2030 on electrification, Ford said.
Plants on both sites will open in 2025.
Monday's announcement is the single largest manufacturing investment in Ford's 118-year history.
The Tennessee assembly and battery complex will be about three times the size of Ford's sprawling, century-old Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, Michigan, with room to expand it.
The No.2 U.S. carmaker's portion of the investment is $7 billion, with SK covering the rest.
The companies will invest $5.8 billion in Kentucky, and $5.6 billion in Tennessee.
With its three additional battery factories and two battery plants in Georgia, SK Innovation is set to secure an annual capacity of about 150 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries in the United States.
Ford, which plans to launch the electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck next spring, has moved more aggressively to roll out its EV strategy under Jim Farley, who took over as chief executive last October.
Earlier this month, Ford doubled the planned production capacity in Dearborn, Michigan, for the F-150 Lightning to 80,000 annually due to strong pre-launch demand for the electric pickup.
(Production: Aleksandra Michalska) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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